Accessibility Plan

TechInsights’ Accessibility Plan

1. Statement of Commitment

TechInsights is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and by meeting our accessibility requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws.

2. Purpose

In compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), TechInsights has developed a multi-year accessibility plan (2014 – 2025) to outline strategies to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility for customers and employees with disabilities.

This accessibility plan outlines the steps TechInsights is taking to meet those requirements and to improve opportunities for people with disabilities.

Our plan shows how TechInsights will play its role in making Ontario an accessible province for all Ontarians.

4. Customer Service Standard

4.1 Customer Service

TechInsights has developed practices to comply with Regulation 429/07 of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service. These practices:

Take into consideration a person’s disability when interacting and communicating with them

Allow assistive devices, service animals and support persons to accompany persons with disabilities

Notify customers of disruptions in the facilities or services usually used by persons with disabilities

Provide a means for receiving and responding to feedback about the way it provides goods or services to persons with disabilities

Notify customers that documents are available upon request and in alternate formats that take into account the person’s disability

4.2 Training

TechInsights will provide training to all employees on accessible customer service and how to accommodate persons with disabilities. This includes new hires as part of their orientation. In addition, any third-party representatives of TechInsights who deal with the public will also be trained.

5. Information and Communication Standard

5.1 Accessible Formats and Communication Supports

TechInsights is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. For information made available to the public by TechInsights, and other means of communication, upon request and in a timely manner, TechInsights will:

Consult with the person making the request for alternate formats or communication supports to determine a format that takes into account his or her disability

Provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats or communication supports at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons

TechInsights has taken the following steps to make sure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request:

Ensure our reception desk has a copy of our Accessibility Plan and Policy

Post Accessibility Plan and Policy on TechInsights’ intranet to ensure access to all employees, allowing them to share when requested

Exceptions: TechInsights is not required to provide accessible formats for products and product labels, unconvertible information or communications, and information that TechInsights does not directly or indirectly control.

5.2 Accessible Websites and Web Content

TechInsights has taken the following steps to make our existing website and content conform to WCAG 2.0 Level A:

Upon request, provide a written transcript of any video material on our website

Ensure that all content is available in large font

Upon request, employees can provide verbal content over the phone or in-person

By January 1, 2021, TechInsights will design our internet websites and web content to conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.

6. Employment Standard

TechInsights is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. The following steps are in place to notify the public and staff that, when requested, TechInsights will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired:

We have posted our Accessibility Plan including our Statement of Commitment to equal access on our website and our intranet

We will understand requirements in advance of a visiting candidate in order to ensure accommodation is provided where needed

6.1. Workplace Emergency Response

TechInsights will provide publicly available emergency information in an accessible format upon request.

We will develop an individualized emergency response plan for any employee who requests assistance in the event of an emergency. Such plans may be temporary or permanent in nature, depending on the individual needs. The plans will be made available in accessible formats as required. With the employee’s consent, a copy will be provided if needed to anyone who will be providing assistance to the employee.

On an ongoing basis and on request, TechInsights will:

Consult with the employee making the request to develop individualized workplace emergency response information and plans

Reference support documents include: AODA Emergency Evacuation Self-Assessment and the Need for Assistance in Case of an Emergency

Review the information if/when the employee moves to a different location within TechInsights, when overall accommodation plans are reviewed, and when TechInsights reviews its emergency response policies

6.2. Recruitment

TechInsights is committed to ensuring its hiring and selection process is inclusive of persons with disabilities. To meet that commitment TechInsights:

Notifies internal and external job applicants that accommodations for disabilities will be provided on request, to support their participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. Notification will be posted on all job postings. Alternate formats will be provided on request

Notifies job applicants by email when they are individually selected to participate in selection and assessment process that accommodations are available on request. TechInsights will work with the applicant to determine their accommodation needs for the selection and assessment process

Notifies the successful applicant in the job offer letter of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making an offer of employment

6.3. Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees

TechInsights is committed to ensuring that employees have access to information that is needed to perform their jobs and that is generally available to employees in the workplace. TechInsights:

Informs employees of policies used to support individuals with disabilities including the provision of job accommodations and supports. Training is provided and documentation is posted on our intranet site

When requested, will consult with employees to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports:

Information to perform their jobs

Information that is generally available to employees in the workplace

Such supports will be determined in consultation with the employee making the request. Supports may include screen reader software, electronic copies of printed documents, large print documents, etc.

Will provide updated information to its employees whenever there is a change to the policy

6.4. Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

TechInsights is committed to ensuring that employees with disabilities are provided with appropriate accommodations to meet the specific needs of that individual.

TechInsights will work with employees on request, to prepare and document individual accommodation plans. These accommodation plans apply to both temporary and permanent disabilities. The plan will be a written process for the accommodation of employees with disabilities and will be provided in an accessible format if requested

6.5. Return to Work Process

Where employees have been absent from work due to a disability, either on a permanent or temporary basis, TechInsights is committed to ensuring the employee is reintegrated into the workplace.

As needed TechInsights will develop and document a return to work process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability related accommodations in order to return to work

Depending on the nature of the disability, the return to work process may include the provision of communication supports or assistive devices, fewer hours, retraining, transitional work etc.

We will work with our Insurance Company covering the disability to ensure accommodation plans are made in advance of the employee’s return

6.6. Performance Management and Career Development and Advancement

TechInsights is committed to ensuring that employees with disabilities are considered fairly in assessing their performance, productivity and effectiveness, and are granted equal access to opportunities for career development and advancement.

TechInsights will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when providing feedback to employees regarding their performance

TechInsights will take into account the accessibility needs as well as individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities when providing career development and advancement

7. Design of Public Spaces

TechInsights will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces. These include:

When emergency maintenance, preventative maintenance or temporary disruptions occur resulting in accessible elements not in working order, TechInsights will complete the following:

A notice will be sent to all employees

Signs will be placed in public spaces and will include: an explanation of the disruption, its anticipated length of time and a description of alternative facilities or services if available

8. Review

This Accessibility Plan will be reviewed annually and, if necessary, updated at least once every five (5) years.

9. Feedback Process

We welcome internal and external customer feedback on our efforts to ensure accessible customer service to people with disabilities. We invite individuals to communicate by telephone, in person, in writing or via email using the contact information below: